Mysore/Mysuru: With Chief Minister Basavaraj Bommai, who also holds Finance portfolio, likely to present the State budget in the first week of March, Chamaraja MLA L. Nagendra met the CM at Bengaluru on Thursday and appealed him to make a budgetary allocation of a total of Rs.135 crore for re-construction of dilapidated Lansdowne and Devaraja Market buildings in Mysuru.
In a memorandum submitted to the CM, Nagendra said that the over a century old Lansdowne and Devaraja Market buildings located in the heart of the city have turned dilapidated with the passage of time and there are plans to re-construct them while retaining all their heritage characteristics, as recommended by Technical Task Force Committees and subsequently approved by the MCC Council. Pointing out that Rs.37 crore for Lansdowne building and Rs.98 crore for Devaraja Market building was needed for their re-construction, the MLA said that though several representations seeking sanction of funds were submitted in the past, the Government is yet to release funds. As such, the CM should make budgetary allocation of a total of Rs.135 crore (Rs.98 crore for Devaraja Market and Rs. 37 crore for Lansdowne building), Nagendra said in the memorandum.
It may be recalled that a portion of the roof of the Lansdowne building collapsed due to heavy rains in Aug.2012, resulting in the death of four persons and injuries to a few others. The front portion of Devaraja Market building collapsed during renovation works that were taken up a few years ago. Fortunately, there were no fatalities or injuries.
Nagendra also appealed the CM to announce Rs.85.98 crore needed for renovation and repairs of all attached Hospitals of MMC&RI, including the over a century old K.R.Hospital, popularly known as ‘Doddaspatre’ among the rural masses.
Nagendra also submitted a separate memorandum in this regard to Health and Medical Education Minister Dr. K. Sudhakar at Bengaluru yesterday.
Maintaining that K.R. Hospital is over a century old Hospital and its building blocks have turned dilapidated over the passage of time, the MLA explained about the importance of the Hospital and all other attached Hospitals in providing medical care not only to the people of Mysuru district, but from several neighbouring districts as well.
Pointing out that the Engineering section of Health and Family Welfare Department has prepared and submitted a Rs.85.98 crore estimate to the Government for renovation and repairs of all MMC&RI attached hospitals, he appealed the Health Minister to take measures for budgetary allocations for meeting the estimated cost.
So, 85 crores for Medical college, and hospital buildings, repairs, expansion and renovation, and 135 crores for renovating the abandoned Lansdowne building and Devaraja Market?
Lansdowne building was abandoned by shop owners because the match-box small shopping spaces were not suitable for modern shops with increased number of customers. For example, out tailor was losing business , as he had no room for private fitting, and hence, he moved out. This building was abandoned by late 1970s. As for Devaraja Market, it was no longer the first stop for fruits and vegetables again in late 1970s, as the shop owners were charging as much as twice for a kilo of fruits and vegetables which were not usually fresh, compared to the street markets spring up in the new extensions, as Mysuru was expanding fast, where fruits and vegetables were not only fresh, but costing less per kilo.
Both these edifices lost out and abandoned for economic and commercial reasons. Reviving them to do what? They are going to be abandoned in a few years . Heritage value? Lansdowne building was built to commemorate the visit of a British ruling rep then.
Just demolish them, and invest 155+85 crores for the medical college and hospital buildings.
No need to spend 155 crores for buildings like Lansdowne and Devaraja Market, which became dilapidated as they were unsuitable economic-wise.
Mysuru is destined for expansion, far more than any one has imagined as the rail and road links to Kerala come into operations. The Keralites are insisting on the rail and road plans, as they see Mysuru and the surrounding towns and villages are comparatively have more spaces for a massive influx of Keralites, who have gold smuggling and Fake designer goods business in the Gulf States. They are interested in laundering their illegal money, and they will snap up the dilapidated Lansdowne and Devaraja Market buildings, to demolish them for shiny new buildings for their business.
The influx of these Keralites will change Mysuru, as they stand for MCC, Legislative and parliament elections, and have the ability to bring Malayalam -speaking IAS officers as Municipal and Deputy Commissioners. This is just only a few years away.
No need to spend 155 crores for buildings like Lansdowne and Devaraja Market, which became dilapidated as they were unsuitable economic-wise.
Mysuru is destined for expansion, far more than any one has imagined as the rail and road links to Kerala come into operations. The Keralites are insisting on the rail and road plans, as they see Mysuru and the surrounding towns and villages are comparatively have more spaces for a massive influx of Keralites, who have gold smuggling and Fake designer goods business in the Gulf States. They are interested in laundering their illegal money, and they will snap up the dilapidated Lansdowne and Devaraja Market buildings, to demolish them for shiny new buildings for their business.
The influx of these Keralites will change Mysuru, as they stand for MCC, Legislative and parliament elections, and have the ability to bring Malayalam -speaking IAS officers as Municipal and Deputy Commissioners. This is just only a few years away.